TONY MOWBRAY was left to reflect on something of an unwanted treble despite his promotion-chasing Middlesbrough keeping up their unbeaten run.

Mowbray’s men have not lost in the Championship for 13 games stretching back to last season, as he leads a quiet Riverside revival.

However, for the third consecutive home game, his draw specialists were held to a share of the spoils to again deny them top spot in the Championship, even if Southampton only occupy the summit courtesy of goal difference.

Boro were pushed all the way by Sven-Goran-Eriksson’s Leicester, who clocked up an eighth game unbeaten in all competitions to show further signs of life after their sluggish start to the campaign.

Both sides carved out plenty of chances but, with Kasper Schmeichel in fine form for Leicester and Carl Ikeme posting a fourth straight league clean sheet at the other end, defences were always on top. Marvin Emnes and Joe Bennett passed late fitness tests in a boost for Boro, who were warned by Mowbray that Leicester posed the biggest threat to his side’s five-month unbeaten league record.

Middlesbrough 0 Leicester 0

Lee Peltier underlined the fact, heading just over from an early Richie Wellens corner. But Peltier was soon on the back foot, the defender easily beaten by Bennett, whose angled drive stung the fingers of Schmeichel.

Michael Johnson, the injury-plagued midfielder on loan from Manchester City who was enjoying his first taste of league football for more than two years, combined with Andy King to release Darius Vassell into the Boro area, the forward’s progress only halted by a fine sliding challenge from Middlesbrough skipper Matthew Bates.

Leicester continued to carve out the clearer openings and from a partially cleared corner, Yuki Abe’s ball back into the box was flicked on by King for Jermaine Beckford, who should have done better than to head over from five yards.

It took a fine fingertip save low to his right from Schmeichel to keep Boro out before the break, with Emnes seeing his shot on the turn almost squeeze in at the near post.

The chances continued to flow after the break, Abe firing across the face of goal after swapping passes within the Boro area.

At the other end, Souleymane Bamba came close to flicking a Barry Robson free-kick into his own net, while Schmeichel then dived to his left to gather Bennett’s low drive as the Boro youngster tried his luck from distance.

Man-of-the-match Bailey was then inches from getting his head to another teasing Robson set-piece with the goal at his mercy, as the sides settled for a point.